JP5856486B2 - Combination scale - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combination weigher, and more specifically, a plurality of weighing units disposed at fixed positions below the circumference while rotating a plurality of supply hoppers located on the circumference around the center of the circumference. The present invention relates to a combination weigher that supplies an object to be weighed from the supply hopper to a hopper.

  In the combination weigher, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, an object to be weighed is supplied from above to a central portion of a circular feeder by a bucket conveyor or the like. The plurality of radial feeders are conveyed by vibration to a plurality of radial feeders arranged radially around the circular feeder, and the plurality of radial feeders are supplied with vibrations to a plurality of supply hoppers arranged in a circle around them. Carry each. Each supply hopper supplies the supplied weighing object to the lower weighing hopper, and each weighing hopper weighs the weighing object and performs combination calculation based on the measured value, thereby combining various weighing values. Select the combination of weighing hoppers whose combined weight, which is the sum of the two, matches or is the closest to the target combined weight, discharge the objects to be weighed from the selected weighing hopper, and put it into the packaging machine, for example, via the collecting chute I try to do it.

  In such a combination weigher, if the objects to be weighed have poor fluidity and are sticky, the objects to be weighed may be entangled with each other, or the irregularly shaped objects to be weighed may overlap each other. The objects to be weighed cannot be transported equally due to the vibration of the radiation feeder, and a large difference occurs in the supply amount of the objects to be weighed supplied to the weighing hopper, making accurate combination calculation difficult.

  For this reason, in the case of an object to be weighed having poor fluidity and stickiness, for example, as shown in Patent Document 2, a combination weigher in which the object to be weighed is supplied manually is applied. There are many cases. In such a combination weigher, an operator stands in front of a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged in a straight line, and when an object to be weighed is discharged from the weighing hopper selected for the combination by the combination calculation and becomes empty, the emptying is performed. An object to be weighed is manually fed into the weighing hopper.

  In such a combination weigher, a weighing hopper that is an empty weighing hopper among a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged in a straight line and in which the discharge gate of the weighing hopper is not in operation so that the object to be weighed does not occur. It is only necessary to manually input the object to be weighed, and it is possible to manually input the object to be weighed by a measuring hopper at hand or a slightly separated weighing hopper without a large time difference.

  However, if the number of weighing hoppers arranged in a straight line is increased in order to improve the combination accuracy, the number of weighing hoppers to monitor the presence / absence of objects to be measured and the operation state of the discharge gate increases. In general, an object to be weighed manually is relatively large and heavy, so that the size of the weighing hopper is increased and the working range is widened, increasing the burden on the operator.

  For this reason, for example, as shown in Patent Document 3, a plurality of weighing hoppers that are positioned at equal intervals on the circumference are rotated around the center of the circumference to arrive within a relatively narrow working range. There is also an application of a combination weigher configured to manually input an object to be weighed by monitoring the above.

  Such a combination weigher performs a combination calculation based on the weight of the objects to be weighed in the plurality of weighing hoppers while continuously rotating the plurality of weighing hoppers around the center of the circumference. A combination of weighing hoppers that matches or is closest to the combined weight is selected, and the discharge gate of the selected weighing hopper is opened, and the objects to be weighed are discharged to the collecting chute to be a combined product.

  In such a combination weigher, a position in the vicinity of the circumference around which the weighing hopper rotates is set as a work position at which an operator puts an object to be weighed. A weighing hopper that has been discharged and emptied and whose weighing gate is closed is visually confirmed, and an object to be weighed is manually loaded into the empty weighing hopper.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-44827 Japanese Patent No. 4766441 JP-A-62-200234

  In the combination weigher of Patent Document 3 described above, in the most extreme case, a plurality of weighing hoppers immediately after passing through the work position where the objects to be weighed are inserted are selected by the combination calculation, and the objects to be weighed are discharged from these weighing hoppers. As a result, the objects to be weighed cannot be put in until the weighing hoppers make one rotation around the center of the circumference and arrive at the working position again. For this reason, for example, when the number of weighing hoppers is 12 and four weighing hoppers are selected as a combination, a new one is added to the weighing hopper that is selected as a combination and discharges an object to be weighed. Until the object to be weighed is thrown in, the remaining 8 weighing hoppers must perform the combination calculation. The combination is not established, and even if the production processing capacity is reduced or the combination is established, it can be selected. There is a problem that the number of such combinations is reduced, the probability of a large deviation from the target combination weight is increased, and the yield of the selected combination product is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a combination weigher including a plurality of hoppers positioned on the circumference, the production processing capacity is increased and the yield of the combined product is improved. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  (1) The combination weigher of the present invention is positioned on the circumference, holds the object to be weighed while rotating around the center of the circumference, discharges the object to be weighed, and supplies it downward. A plurality of supply hoppers, a plurality of weighing hoppers that are arranged at fixed positions below the circumference, hold and discharge the objects to be discharged from the supply hopper, and are held by the weighing hoppers. A combination calculation is performed based on a plurality of weighing units for weighing each object to be weighed, and a weight value measured by the plurality of weighing units, and the discharging operation of the weighing hopper is controlled to be selected by the combination calculation. A calculation control unit that discharges an object to be weighed by the weighing hopper, and a position detection unit that detects a position of the supply hopper on the circumference, and the calculation control unit controls a discharge operation of the supply hopper. Before Based on the detection output of the position detection unit and the weight value measured by the plurality of weighing units, the supply hopper is discharged to the supply hopper when passing over the empty weighing hopper from which the object to be weighed has been discharged. It is what makes it work.

  “Lower” or “upper” is not limited to vertically downward or vertically upward, but may be diagonally downward or diagonally upward.

  According to the combination weigher of the present invention, the position detection unit detects the positions on the circumference of the plurality of supply hoppers that rotate around the center of the circumference, and thus is disposed at a fixed position below the circumference. While the supply hopper passing through the upper position of each weighing hopper can be grasped, the presence / absence of an object to be weighed in each weighing hopper is determined according to the weight value of each weighing unit for weighing the object to be weighed in each weighing hopper, that is, Since it is possible to grasp whether the weighing hopper is empty or not, the calculation control unit discharges the weighing hopper to the supply hopper when it passes over the weighing hopper that has been emptied after discharging the object to be weighed. In operation, the object to be weighed can be supplied to the empty weighing hopper.

  For the weighing hopper that has been emptied by discharging the object to be weighed in this way, when a plurality of supply hoppers that rotate around the center of the circle pass above the emptied weighing hopper. Since the object to be weighed is supplied from the supply hopper that performs the discharge operation, the empty weighing hopper rotates approximately one turn as in the conventional example in which the weighing hopper rotates around the center of the circumference, and the supply position The object to be weighed is not supplied until it reaches again, thereby increasing the number of weighing hoppers participating in the combination calculation, improving the production processing capacity and improving the yield of the combination.

(2) In a preferred embodiment of the combination weigher of the present invention, an object to be weighed is supplied to the supply hopper that has been discharged to the empty weighing hopper at a predetermined supply position on the circumference.

  At a predetermined supply position on the circumference, the operator may manually put the object to be weighed into the supply hopper, or may automatically supply the object to be weighed.

  According to this embodiment, when passing over the empty weighing hopper, the discharging operation is performed to discharge the object to be weighed, and the supply hopper that has become empty has a predetermined supply position on the circumference. When passing, the object to be weighed is newly supplied.

  (3) In the embodiment of the above (2), the calculation control unit is configured to perform the discharge operation with a supply hopper passing through the predetermined supply position and a supply hopper passing through a position other than the predetermined supply position. May be different.

  According to this embodiment, the supply hopper that passes through the predetermined supply position and the supply hopper that passes through a position other than the predetermined supply position have different discharge operation execution conditions. In the hopper, the execution condition is made strict, and for example, it is possible to prevent the discharge operation from being performed in the supply hopper in which the object to be weighed is not charged, and the supply hopper passing through a predetermined supply position performs the discharge operation. The frequency can be reduced. In this way, in the supply hopper that passes through a predetermined supply position into which the object to be weighed is charged, since the supply hopper is being discharged by reducing the frequency of performing the discharge operation, the supply hopper Occurrence of a situation in which an object to be weighed cannot be input can be reduced.

  (4) In the embodiment of the above (3), the calculation control unit executes the discharge operation of the supply hopper that passes through the predetermined supply position after the predetermined supply position has passed through the predetermined supply position. The discharge operation may not be performed until the supply position is reached.

  According to this embodiment, the supply hopper that passes through the predetermined supply position is not performing a discharging operation after passing through the predetermined supply position last time until reaching the predetermined supply position this time, that is, Since the discharge operation has not been performed since the object was supplied when passing the predetermined supply position last time and the object to be weighed is contained, the discharge operation is performed. It is possible to prevent an empty supply hopper that is not accommodated from performing a wasteful discharge operation.

  (5) In another embodiment of the combination weigher of the present invention, the supply hopper that has been discharged is provided with a conveyor that supplies an object to be weighed at the predetermined supply position on the circumference, and the conveyor An end is disposed above the predetermined supply position, and the object to be weighed is supplied from the transfer end to the supply hopper passing through the predetermined supply position.

  According to this embodiment, while the supply hopper that has been emptied by performing the discharge operation passes through a predetermined supply position, the conveyor can be driven to supply the object to be weighed to the supply hopper from the end of conveyance. As a result, it is not necessary for the operator to manually put the object to be weighed into the supply hopper.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of supply hoppers that rotate around the center of the circumference pass above the emptied weighing hopper with respect to the weighing hopper that has been emptied by discharging the object to be weighed. Sometimes, the supply hopper is discharged to supply the object to be weighed to the weighing hopper. Therefore, the empty weighing hopper is approximately 1 as in the conventional example in which the weighing hopper rotates around the center of the circumference. There is no such thing as the object to be weighed is not supplied until it rotates and reaches the supply position again, thereby increasing the number of weighing hoppers participating in the combination calculation, improving the production processing capacity, Yield is improved.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the weighing hopper and the supply hopper shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the disk of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing photo interrupter detection pulses. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control configuration. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the system state determination process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of combination calculation, weighing hopper discharge processing, and the like. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing for each supply hopper passing above each weighing hopper. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the driving process of the discharge gate of the supply hopper. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the driving process of the discharge gate of the weighing hopper. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the weighing hopper and the supply hopper of FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of processing for each supply hopper passing above each weighing hopper. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the driving process of the supply conveyor.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a combination weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Three support frames 1 in which a disk-like weighing platform base 6 is erected at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the weighing platform base 6 (only two on the back side are shown in FIG. 1). It is supported and fixed by. On the weighing platform base 6, a motor 7, a gear 8 coupled to the motor 7, and a gear 9 that meshes with the gear 8 and is fixed to the rotating shaft 4 that is rotatably supported by the bearing 10 are provided. The drive mechanism is housed and disposed in a housing housing (not shown). The motor 7 is fixed on the weighing platform base 6 with a mounting bracket (not shown). With this drive mechanism, the rotary shaft 4 is rotationally driven at a predetermined rotational speed.

At the upper end of the rotating shaft 4, a disk-shaped rotating disk 5 that is integrally rotated coaxially with the rotating shaft 4 is attached, and as shown in the plan view of FIG. A plurality of, in this example, twelve support arms 40 are extended from the outer peripheral end of the rotating disk 5, and twelve supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are provided in each support arm 40 in the direction of arrow A. Are provided at equal intervals on the circumference centered on the axis x of the rotating shaft 4 that rotates at a constant angle.

Each of the twelve supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ positioned at equal intervals on the circumference rotates around the axis x of the rotary shaft 4 that is the center of the circumference. The supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are discharge gates 41 ₁ a to 41 ₁₂ a whose bottoms open and close in order to discharge the objects to be weighed downward.

A plurality of, in this example, twelve weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are arranged on the weighing platform base 6 below the turntable 5 at equal intervals below the circumference around which the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ rotate. It is fixedly provided. That is, these weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are fixedly arranged at equal intervals on a circumference centered on the axis x of the rotating shaft 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are connected to weight sensors 14 _{1 to} 14 ₁₂ such as load cells fixed on the weighing platform base 6 via weighing hopper support fittings 15 ₁ to 15 _12. are respectively supported, the weight of the objects to be weighed which have been supplied to the respective weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} is metered by weight sensor _{14 1-14 12} serving as metering section.

Feed hopper _{41 1-41 12,} by rotating around the axis x of the rotating shaft 4, discharge gate ₄₁₁ A～41 ₁₂ a of the bottom of the feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} weighing hoppers _131-134 is installed so as to pass through the position facing the opening _12, by opening the discharge gate ₄₁₁ A～41 ₁₂ a of the bottom of the feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} rotating at the right time, one of the supply Even the objects to be weighed accommodated in the hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are configured to be able to supply the objects to be weighed to arbitrary weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ . When each of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ passes a predetermined supply position on the circumference, an object to be weighed is put in by a worker standing at a work position P in a second region Z ₂ (described later) in FIG. It has come to be.

When the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are selected as appropriate combinations by the combination calculation, as shown in FIG. 1, the discharge gates whose bottoms are opened and closed to discharge the objects to be measured to the lower collecting chute 3 as shown in FIG. 13 ₁ a to 13 ₁₂ a. The objects to be weighed discharged to the collective chute 3 are discharged onto the carry-out conveyor 16 via the collective chute 3 and conveyed to a subsequent packaging machine or the like (not shown).

On the weighing platform base 6, a weight measuring unit (not shown) and a main body control unit (not shown), which process load signals from the weight sensors 14 _{1 to} 14 ₁₂ , respectively, are arranged. .

As shown in FIG. 1, a disk 11 that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 4 is attached to the rotating shaft 4, and the outer peripheral edge of the disk 11 is shown in the plan view of FIG. As shown in the figure, twelve through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and on the extension line connecting the center of the disk 11 and the one through hole 11 ₁ , _One notch 11a wider than 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ is formed.

Two sets of photo-interrupters (not shown) each comprising a light projecting / receiving element for detecting the through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ and the notch 11a of the disc 11 are provided on the fixture 12 shown in FIG. It is fixedly installed so as to face the outer peripheral edge of the plate 11. The disk 11 and the two sets of photo interrupters constitute a position detector that detects the rotational positions of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ on the circumference.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, first to twelfth regions Z _{1 to} Z ₁₂ are virtually set by dividing the periphery into 12 parts around the axis x of the rotation shaft 4. Twelve weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are fixedly arranged in the middle of Z _{1 to} Z ₁₂ , and each weighing hopper is arranged in the first to twelfth directions along the rotation direction indicated by an arrow A. The weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are used. At this time, the origin position, which is the reference position for rotation of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ rotating around the axis x, is set as a virtual boundary line B that divides the twelfth region Z ₁₂ and the first region Z ₁ .

The two sets of photo interrupters described above are installed so as to correspond to the virtual boundary line B that is the origin position, and the notch 11a of the disk 11 passing through the origin position and the twelve through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 _12. 12 through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ individually correspond to ₁₂ supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ , and one notch 11 a corresponds to one supply hopper 41. Corresponding to ₁ .

In addition, as described above, the work position P at which the operator puts an object to be measured into the rotating supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ is the second position on the downstream side in the rotation direction from the virtual boundary line B that is the origin position. is set in the region _{Z 2,} the feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} passing through the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} of the first to third regions _Z 1 to Z ₃ as the target Load the sample. That is, the worker stands at the work position P in FIG. 2 and monitors only the state of the three supply hoppers that come in front of the worker. In other words, only three states of the supply hopper of which reaches the first through third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} upper position sequentially monitored, a empty three either feed hopper of the feed hopper, the discharge If the gate is not open / closed, load the object to be weighed.

As described above, since the two sets of photo interrupters are installed so as to correspond to the virtual boundary line B that is the origin position, the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ rotate once around the axis x. Accordingly, the disc 11 also rotates once to detect the notch 11a of the disc 11, and the first detection pulse Rp shown in FIG. From the photo interrupter that detects the through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ , the second detection pulse Tp shown in FIG. 4B is output 12 times corresponding to the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ . When the through hole 11 ₁ of the disc 11 is on the imaginary boundary line B is, since a wide notch 11a in width than the through hole 11 ₁ is on the imaginary boundary line B, the period in which the first detection pulse Rp is outputted In addition, the second detection pulse Tp is also output. The disk 11 is attached to the rotating shaft 4 so as to have a required positional relationship with the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ .

There notch 11a of the disk 11 on the imaginary boundary line B, when the through hole 11 ₁ is started enters the virtual boundary line B, that the first detection pulse Rp shown in FIG. 4 (a) is a high level Te, at the time Ta in which the second detection pulse Tp becomes the high level in FIG. 4 (b), in FIG. 2, the first feed hopper 41 ₁ in the upper position of the 12 weighing hoppers _{13 12} of the 12 regions _{Z 12} is , when fully reached from starting Sashikakari the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ in the first area Z _1, the following holes 11 ₁₂ of the disc 11 has reached the virtual boundary line B in FIG. 4 ( The time point Tb when the second detection pulse Tp of b) is output is reached. That is, in the period T1 from the time point Ta in FIG. 4 to the time point Tb, will be the first feed hopper 41 ₁ reaches its upper position from the start Sashikakari the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, 2, first feed hopper 41 ₁ of the feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} rotating in the circumferential center around is represents a state to start Sashikakari the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1.

The first along the rotational direction around the axis x shown by the arrow A from the feed hopper 41 ₁ (clockwise), the second to 12 supply hopper _{41 2-41 12.} Each supply hopper 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ moves one above the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ within a period T2 from the time Tb in FIG. 4 until the next second detection pulse Tp is output. to become, for example, first feed hopper 41 ₁ is moved from a first position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ of the first area _{Z 1} to a second position above the weighing hoppers 13 of the _second region _{Z 2,} first the upper position of the weighing hoppers 13 _1, so that the first 12 supply hopper _{41 12} comes newly moved.

In this embodiment, the worker standing at the work position P places the supply hopper into which the object is to be weighed, above the _first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 133 in front of the worker, and ₃ of the supply hoppers. The number of the three supply hoppers that reach the upper positions of the three first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ is changed sequentially according to the rotational movement around the center of the circumference. I will go.

Operator, the feed hopper of the feed position that can be turned on the objects to be weighed, in this embodiment, although the first to third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} three supply hoppers approaches the upper position One, two, or three or more supply hoppers may be provided at positions above one, two, or three or more weighing hoppers.

The reason for designating the supply position at which the object to be weighed can be input in this way will be described in more detail later. However, compared with the supply hoppers located above the other measurement hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ , The supply hopper located above the third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ is a supply hopper into which an object to be weighed is newly added by the operator, and therefore approaches the position above the other weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 _12. Compared to the supply hopper, it is necessary to increase the probability that a new object to be weighed can be put in. Therefore, a special discharge gate operating condition is set. In other words, the opportunity to open the discharge gate of the supply hopper is less than that of the supply hopper at other positions so that the operator can input a new object as much as possible. In addition, since an operator may make a mistake, the object to be weighed is not always stored in the supply hopper that has passed through the supply position.

In such a combination weigher, when the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ arranged in a circle are discharged from an external packaging machine (not shown), the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are stabilized. When the combination operation is performed on the objects to be weighed having appropriate weight values and selected by the combination operation, the selected weighing hopper opens the discharge gate, and the objects to be weighed below the collecting chute 3 below. The combined product is transported out of the combination weigher by the transporting conveyor 16.

  At that time, the weighing hopper that has discharged the object to be weighed can grasp that it is empty by judging the level of the load signal, and can grasp the supply hopper approaching the upper position of the weighing hopper. Regardless of whether or not the object to be weighed is actually stored in the supply hopper, the discharge gate is opened to supply the object to be weighed, or the object to be weighed is supplied even if it is empty.

  If the object to be weighed is not accommodated in the supply hopper, the object to be weighed is not supplied to the weighing hopper and remains empty. To supply the object to be weighed.

If the operation is performed in this manner, the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ which are empty are basically 1 / one rotation of the rotation if the objects to be weighed are put in the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 _12. Since the next object to be weighed is supplied promptly by the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ that sequentially reach the upper position in 12 cycles, the object to be weighed is supplied more quickly than the conventional method of rotating the weighing hopper. It becomes possible to perform a combination operation on the objects to be weighed of many weighing hoppers, and the combination accuracy and production processing capacity are improved.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the combination weigher of this embodiment, and parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals.

This combination weigher includes a main body control unit 18. The main body control unit 18 stores a CPU 23 as a calculation control unit, a ROM for storing calculation programs and setting values, and temporarily storing data during calculation. , A storage unit 24 such as a RAM, an I / O circuit 25 that inputs and outputs signals between the CPU 23 and an external unit, and weight sensors 14 ₁ that weigh the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 _12. It includes a respective weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12} corresponding individually to to 14 _12, and a serial controller 27 for controlling data communication between these weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12.} The I / O circuit 25 also includes a clock generation circuit that generates a clock with a fixed period.

Each weight sensor _{14 1-14 12} corresponding individually to each of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 12,} for example, a load cell, supports each weighing hoppers _{131-134 12,} objects to be weighed and the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ generating a load signal according to 13 _12. Weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12,} the weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} weighing hoppers _131-134 to calculate the weight of the objects to be weighed contained in the _12-chip serial controller from the load signal (not shown ) To the serial controller 27. The CPU 23 obtains the weights of the respective weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ by reading the data of the serial controller 27.

Data necessary for the main body control unit 18 is set by the input device 42. Operations such as ON / OFF of the operation operation and zero adjustment of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are performed by a setting switch (not shown) of the input device 42, and an operation command signal is sent to each weight measurement unit 17 ₁ via the main body control unit 18. It is sent to to 17 _12.

The weights generated by the respective weight measuring units 17 _{1 to} 17 ₁₂ are sent to the display device 43 via the main body control unit 18 and displayed.

  Further, data such as the number of combinations generated by the combination calculation and the average deviation and standard deviation from the target combination weight value of the combination product are sent to the display device 43 and displayed.

First to 12 discharge gate drive circuit ₄₄ 1 _{to 44 12} for driving the first to twelfth discharge gate ₄₁₁ A～41 ₁₂ a of the first to twelfth supply hopper _{41 1-42 12} respectively, I / O receiving a signal from the circuit 25, a driving signal for driving the actuator (not shown) that is included in the first to twelfth supply hopper _{41 1-41 12} first to 12th discharge gate ₄₁₁ A～41 ₁₂ a of Generate each.

First to twelfth weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} first to the first to twelfth discharge gate drive circuit ₂₈ 1 _{to 28 12} to the second 12 discharge gate ₁₃ 1 A～13 ₁₂ a respectively driving of, I / O receiving a signal from the circuit 25, a driving signal for driving the actuator (not shown) that is included in the first to twelfth weighing hoppers _131-134 first to twelfth ₁₂ discharge gate ₁₃ 1 A～13 ₁₂ a Generate each.

  The first motor drive circuit 29 drives the motor 7 that rotationally drives the turntable 5 of the combination weigher, and the second motor drive circuit 30 drives the motor 31 that rotationally drives the carry-out conveyor 16.

As described above, the first and second photo interrupters 32 and 33 are attached to the fixture 12 of FIG. 1 and detect the notches 11a and the through holes b11 _{1 to} 11 ₁₂ on the outer peripheral edge of the disk 11. Thus, the first and second detection pulses Rp and Tp shown in FIG. 4 are respectively output. The waveform shaping circuits of the photo interrupters 32 and 33 are included in the I / O circuit 25 described above.

The CPU 23 in the main body control unit 18 determines the system state according to the positions of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ shown in Table 1 below based on the first and second detection pulses Rp and Tp in FIG.

This Table 1 shows that in each system state S _{1 to} S ₁₂ , the first to twelfth supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are moved to a position above any of the weighing hoppers of the _first to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ . The weighing hopper positions “1” to “12” indicate the first to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ in the fixed position, and each system state S _{1 to} S corresponding to ₁₂ "1" to "12" indicates the first to twelfth supply hopper _{41 1-41 12} moving respectively to the position above the first through twelfth weighing hoppers _{131-134 12.}

The first system state S ₁ corresponds to a period from when the first supply hopper 41 ₁ starts to reach the upper position of the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ in the first region Z ₁ until reaching the upper position. in this period, the second feed hopper 41 ₂ at a position above the second weighing hopper 13 _2, the third feed hopper 41 ₃ above the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ fourth metering at a position above the hopper 13 _4, the fifth feed hopper 41 ₅ above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, the same way, the 12 supply hopper _{41 12} upper position of the 12 weighing hoppers ₁₃ to _12, Sashikakari respectively You will reach it from the beginning.

The second detection pulse Tp is output according to the rotation of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ about 30 degrees around the axis x, and the system states are the second system state S ₂ and the third system state S _3. , The fourth system state S ₄ ,..., The eleventh system state S ₁₁ , the twelfth system state S _12, and one rotation, and both the first detection pulse Rp and the second detection pulse Tp are output. The system state is returned to the first system state S ₁ again, and the system states are the second system state S ₂ , the third system state S ₃ , the fourth system state S ₄ ,. _11, and changes the first 12 system state _{S 12,} to repeat the transition of returning to the first system state _{S 1.}

Also for each system state S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ ,... S ₁₂ , each supply hopper 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ performs the same operation as in the first system state S ₁ .

For example, the second system state S _2, as shown in Table 1, there is the twelfth supply hopper 41 ₁₂ corresponding to the period until reaching the starting Sashikakari the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, in this period, the first feed hopper 41 ₁ at a position above the second weighing hopper 13 _2, the second feed hopper 41 ₂ above the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, the third supply hopper 41 ₃ fourth metering at a position above the hopper 13 _4, the fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, the same way, the 11 supply hopper _{41 11} upper position of the 12 weighing hoppers ₁₃ to _12, Sashikakari respectively You will reach it from the beginning.

Further, for example, the 12 system state S _12, as shown in Table 1, in which the second feed hopper 41 ₂ to the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, corresponding to a period before reaching the starting Sashikakari there, in this period, the third supply hopper 41 ₃ to a position above the second weighing hopper 13 _2, the fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ at a position above the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, the fifth feed hopper 41 ₅ the upper position of the fourth weighing hoppers 13 _4, the sixth feed hopper 41 ₆ above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, the same manner, the first supply hopper ₄₁₁ is an upper position of the 12 weighing hoppers ₁₃ to ₁₂ , Each of them will reach after starting to approach.

Further, in Table 1, the hatched portion moves above the _first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 133 ₃ , which are supply positions where the operator can put the objects to be weighed. shows the respective feed hopper _{41 1-41 12,} for example, in the first system state _{S 1,} the first to the third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is a supply position capable of introducing the objects to be weighed the upper position, the first to third supply hopper _{41 1-41 12} moves respectively, in the second system state _{S 2,} the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3,} 12, the 1, second feed hopper ₄₁ 12-41 ₂ moves each, in the third system state _{S 3,} the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3,} 11, 12, the first supply hopper ₄₁ 11-41 ₁ moves respectively

Furthermore, in Table 1, the so-called circled numbers in which numbers are circled are the supply hoppers 41 ₁ after the _first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ which are supply positions into which the objects to be weighed can be put. to 41 ₁₂ indicates the first fourth supply hopper to move the upper position of the weighing hoppers 13 ₄ a weighing hopper passing.

In this embodiment, the fourth weighing hopper 13 passes through a position above the _first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ , which is a supply position of the weighing object that can be loaded by an operator. _For the supply hopper that attempts to reach the position above ₄ , the empty sign flag is reset as will be described later to indicate that the supply hopper is not empty, assuming that an object to be weighed is inserted. Thus, circled numbers in Table 1, in each system state _S 1 _{to S 12,} passes above the position of the first to third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} a supply position of the objects to be weighed, the objects to be weighed The supply hopper is shown in which the empty sign flag is reset as is inserted.

For example, the first system state _{S 1,} the fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ to be Sashikakaro through the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} to the fourth position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₄ Check sign flag is reset, the second system state S _2, the third air sign flag of the supply hopper 41 ₃ to be Sashikakaro a position above the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ is reset, the third system state S in _3, the empty sign flag of the second feed hopper 41 ₁₂ to be Sashikakaro a position above the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ is reset. For such supply hopper 41 _{1-41 12} which has passed through the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is a supply position of the objects to be weighed which can be introduced the objects to be weighed are The empty sign flag is sequentially reset assuming that the object to be weighed is supplied.

Operation to convert the weight of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} each weight sensor _{14 1-14 12} objects to be weighed contained in the weighing hopper _{131-134 12} from the load signal of which supports the can shown in Figure 5 The weight measurement units 17 _{1 to} 17 ₁₂ are used. At that time, the tare weight and the zero point movement amount of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are subtracted from the load signal.

The weight measuring units 17 _{1 to} 17 ₁₂ and the main body control unit 18 perform serial communication, and the weights of the objects to be weighed stored in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are transferred to the serial controller 27 of the main body control unit 18. Is read.

In response to a command from the arithmetic circuit of the main body control unit 18, the weights of the objects to be weighed in the weight measuring units 17 _{1 to} 17 ₁₂ read into the serial controller 27 are sent to the arithmetic circuit of the main body control unit 18.

The weight measuring units 17 _{1 to} 17 ₁₂ may use the value of Wx as it is if the current weight Wx of the object to be weighed is less than the predetermined boundary value Wzt of the near zero weight, regardless of whether it is stable or unstable. If Wx ≧ Wzt, an unstable code is sent if it is not determined to be stable, and a value of Wx is sent if it is determined to be stable.

The main control unit 18 side, from one weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12} when loading the weight of the objects to be weighed, the objects to be weighed of weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} corresponding to the weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12} If the weight Wx of the object is Wx ≧ Wzt, the weighing hopper is allowed to participate in the combination calculation as if the object to be weighed is contained, and if it is unstable code or Wx <Wzt, it is not allowed to participate in the combination calculation. .

The combination calculation is executed at the start of each of the system states S _{1 to} S ₁₂ if a discharge command is output from a device subsequent to the combination weigher, for example, a packaging machine.

  In combination calculation, an appropriate amount combination in which the combination weight of various weighing hoppers participating in the combination calculation is equal to the target combination weight or within the allowable range closest to the target combination weight is selected. select.

Weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} selected in combination is given a drive signal for opening the discharge gate for a predetermined time, open each discharge gate ₁₃ 1 A～13 ₁₂ a, weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} The objects to be weighed stored in the are discharged to the collecting chute 3.

In order to allow more weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ to participate in the combination calculation, it is necessary to supply the objects to be weighed from the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ to many weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ . For this reason, if the load signals of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are close to zero level, the weighing hopper passes through the upper position of the weighing hopper, assuming that the weighing object is discharged and empty. It is preferable to cause the supply hopper to discharge the object to be weighed.

On the other hand, with respect to the supply of the objects to be weighed to the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ , the operator can set the first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 133 ₃ which are the objects to be weighed at the work position P described above. In order to monitor the supply hopper that is passing upward and the monitored supply hopper is empty and to prevent the object to be weighed in, check that the discharge gate is not in operation and is closed. When the object to be weighed is put in the condition and there is an object to be weighed in the supply hopper or the discharge gate is operating, the object to be weighed is not put in.

If the weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ are empty after discharging the objects to be weighed at positions other than the supply position of the objects to be weighed, the supply hopper can discharge the discharge gate regardless of whether or not the objects to be weighed are accommodated. It is only necessary to open and perform the discharging operation.

  However, if the operator performs the discharge operation to open the discharge gate of the supply hopper unconditionally at the supply position of the object to be weighed into the supply hopper, the discharge gate of the supply hopper The frequency of the discharging operation to open the container becomes high, and many opportunities for introducing a new object to be fed into the supply hopper are lost. In other words, if the supply hopper is surely empty, the weighing object cannot be supplied to the weighing hopper, so even if the weighing hopper discharges the weighing object and is empty, the supply hopper discharge gate There is no need to open.

Therefore, in this embodiment, for the feed hopper passing above the first to third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} a supply position of the objects to be weighed, for discharging the objects to be weighed to open the discharge gate The operating conditions are strict.

Each supply hopper has a load on the _{fourth to} twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ other than the supply position of the object to be weighed in any of the _first to twelfth system states S _{1 to} S _12. When the signal is close to the zero level, the main body control unit 18 determines that there is a request to supply the object to be weighed by discharging the object to be weighed. An empty sign that indicates that the supply hopper that has performed the discharge operation opens the discharge gate of the supply hopper that passes through the predetermined time and discharges the object to be measured. Be sure to set the flag.

When an empty sign flag indicating that the supply hopper passing above the _first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ , which is the supply position of the object to be weighed, is set empty, the supply hopper is Since it is surely empty, even if the first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ are in an empty state and there is a request to supply an object to be weighed, the discharge gate of the supply hopper is not opened and the discharge operation is performed. Do not do. Of course, when the first to third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is not empty, i.e., if there is no supply request of the objects to be weighed, discharge gate of the feeding hopper is not open.

If an empty sign flag feed hopper passing through the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} a supply position of the objects to be weighed is not set, i.e., if the feed hopper is not empty In addition, when the first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ are in an empty state, the supply hopper passing through the upper position of the empty weighing hopper is assumed that there is a supply request for an object to be weighed. The discharge gate is opened and the object to be weighed is discharged and supplied to the weighing hopper, and the supply hopper sets the empty sign flag on the assumption that the object to be weighed is discharged and becomes empty. When the first to third weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ are not empty, it is determined that there is no request for supply of the object to be measured, and the discharge gate of the supply hopper passing through the upper position of the non-empty weighing hopper cannot be opened. .

The supply hoppers that pass above the _{fourth to} twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ other than the supply position of the objects to be weighed are discharged by the _{fourth to} twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 _12. When it is empty, it is assumed that there is a request to supply an object to be weighed, regardless of the setting or resetting of the empty sign flag of the supply hopper that passes above the empty weighing hopper. Be sure to open the discharge gate whether it is empty or not. When the discharge gate is opened, the empty sign flag of the supply hopper must be set, assuming that the object to be weighed is discharged and empty. When the weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ are not empty, it is determined that there is no supply request for the weighing object, and the discharge gate of the weighing hopper passing through the upper position of the weighing hopper is not opened.

As described above, towards the supply hopper to pass through the first to third upper position of the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is a supply position of the objects to be weighed, the fourth through other than the supply position 12 weighing hoppers 13 _4-13 increase the chance closing the discharge gate as compared to the feed hopper through a position above _12, that much worker will be more opportunities to put the objects to be weighed to the feeding hopper.

When an operator makes an input error in which the object to be weighed cannot be input even though the supply hopper passing through the supply position is empty at the operation position P, the supply hopper may be empty. In such a case, the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are in an empty state, and the discharge hopper of the supply hopper is opened according to the supply request of the measurement object. However, it is unavoidable that the supply opportunity will be lost.

If an empty sign flag is set in the supply hopper, the supply hopper is surely empty, and when it is empty, the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₃ are empty at the supply position, and a supply request for an object to be weighed is made. As a result, there is no point in opening the discharge gate of the supply hopper, and if the discharge gate is opened, there will be no opportunity for new objects to be weighed in. We are trying to increase the chances that weighs can be put in.

Feed hopper, in the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ upper position immediately after passing through the supply locations of the objects to be weighed, i.e., the feed hopper of the circled number in Table 1 above, actually supplied hopper Regardless of whether or not the object to be weighed is stored in the container, the empty sign flag is reset as if the object to be weighed was passed through the supply position and then returned to the supply position. If any of the twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ is in an empty state and there is a request to supply an object to be weighed, the discharge gate is opened and the object to be weighed is discharged to the weighing hopper. As a result, the empty sign flag of the supply hopper is set.

The weighing hoppers 13 _{4 to} 13 ₁₂ are empty until the object to be weighed is not thrown into the supply hopper at the supply position due to an operator's input mistake, and then returns to the supply position again after going around other than the supply position. rather than a state, therefore, without feed hopper performs the discharge operation, if it is not set is empty sign flag, feed hopper is a non-empty state, the supply position weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is empty If it is in a state, it is assumed that there is a supply request for the object to be weighed, and the discharge gate is opened, so that the operator cannot put the object to be weighed into the supply hopper. When the _{1-13 12} have supply request, so even substantially empty opening the discharge gate, so that the supply hopper when comes back to the supply position is set is empty signs, supply In location, it becomes possible to put the objects to be weighed.

Even if the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ become empty in a certain system state and request supply of an object to be weighed, the supply hopper passing through the upper position of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ is not In the empty state, the object to be weighed is not supplied, but if the object to be weighed is not supplied, the load signal less than Wzt continues to hold, i.e., the weighing hopper continues to be empty, so In the next system state, the supply hopper that next passes through the upper position is requested to supply the object to be weighed, and the objects to be weighed are accommodated in the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ that pass next. If so, the object to be weighed will be supplied immediately.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow for determining the system states S _{1 to} S ₁₂ shown in Table 1, and is executed by the CPU 23 of the main body control unit 18. The CPU 23 is interrupted by, for example, a 1 msec clock pulse of the clock generation circuit built in the I / O circuit 25, and is executed in the highest priority process among other processes.

The first and second detection pulses Tp and Rp described above have a notch 11a and through holes 11 _{1 to} 11 _{12 of the} disc 11 so that the pulse width is sufficiently longer than 1 msec even when the rotation of the rotating shaft 4 is the fastest. The width is formed.

  First, it is determined whether or not the second detection pulse Tp is at a high level (step n1). If the second detection pulse Tp is not at a high level, the system state transition timing indicates that it is not the system state transition timing. The flag Fc is reset to “0” (step n8).

  In step n1, when the second detection pulse Tp is at a high level, it is determined that the system state transition flag Fc is “0” based on the transition timing of the system state (step n2). Is “0”, the system state transition flag Fc is set to “1” (step n3), and the process proceeds to step n4.

In step n4, the first detection pulse Rp is determined whether the high level, when a high level, as a timing of transition to the first system state S _1, the system state S ₁ in Table 1 - The SC counter indicating which system state of S ₁₂ is set to “1” indicating the first system state, and the process proceeds to step n 6 (step n 5). Further, when the first detection pulse Rp is not at a high level, as a timing of transition to another system state of the first non-system state S _1, the procedure proceeds to step n6 adds "1" to the count value of the SC counter (Step n7).

  In step n6, "1" is set to the system state start flag Fs indicating that the system state of the count value of the SC counter has started, and the process proceeds to the process of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a processing flow for discharging the objects to be weighed in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ selected by the combination calculation and the combination calculation, and is executed by the CPU 23 of the main body control unit 18.

  This is executed, for example, at a constant time interval of 10 msec, but is a second process with a priority over the process of FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not the system state start flag Fs indicating the start of the system state is “1” (step n101). When the system state start flag Fs is “1”, it is determined that the system state is started. The flag Fs is reset to “0” (step n102), and the weight data of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are read from the serial controller 27 (step n103).

Each weight measuring unit ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 12} corresponding to the respective weighing hoppers _{131-134 12,} boundary weight Wzt close to zero relative to the objects to be weighed weight is set to be accommodated in the weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} In addition, stability determination logic is incorporated.

When the weight Wx of the objects to be weighed stored in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ is Wx <Wzt, the value of Wx is sent to the serial controller 27. When Wx ≧ Wzt, Wx is stably determined by the stability determination logic. If stable, the value of Wx is sent to the serial controller 27. If unstable, a code indicating unstable is substituted for the weight. send.

When the CPU 23 of the main body control unit 18 reads the weight of the objects to be weighed accommodated in the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ from the serial controller 27, the weighing hopper with a stable weight of not less than Wzt is allowed to participate in the combination calculation. The combination calculation is performed (step n104).

  For example, the flag of the discharge gate operation flag Fgk for the k-th weighing hopper 13k is set to “1” so that the discharge gate 13a of the weighing hopper 13 selected as an appropriate combination by the combination calculation is opened for a predetermined time. The flag Fgk for operating the discharge gates of all the weighing hoppers 13 selected for the combination is set to “1”, and the process ends (step n105).

FIG. 8 is a process flow showing the operation of each of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ in each system state described above. In FIG. 8, it is representatively shown first system state S _1. The supply passing through the first through since the third process of feeding hopper passing above the weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} are the same, the first upper position of the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ of feed position of the objects to be weighed the process of the hopper representatively shown, also the supply hopper for passing the position above the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ other fifth to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{5-13 12} empty sign flag is reset as described above since the processing is similar, it is representatively shown process feed hopper passing above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5.

First, based on the count value of the SC counter indicating the system status, it is determined which system status the start timing is (step n200). For example, if the count value of the SC counter is “1”, a first start timing of the system state _{S 1,} as shown in Table 1 above, the first to third supply hopper ₄₁ 1-41 _3, first to third weighing hoppers ₁₃ 1 is suppliable position 13 a about to begin Sashikakari the _third upper position, the fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ are about to begin Sashikakari position above the fourth weighing hoppers 13 _4, fifth to twelfth supply hopper _{41 5-41 12,} the The fifth to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{5 to} 13 ₁₂ are just starting to reach the upper position.

In the first system state _{S 1,} the first to twelfth supply hopper ₄₁ 1-41 ₃ passing through the upper position of the first through twelfth weighing hoppers _{131-134 12} respectively, it performs the process of step n201~n212 .

First, the first processing for the supply hopper 41 ₁ n201 passing through the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, the objects to be weighed which have been accommodated in the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ read at step n103 of Fig. 7 described above weight Wx is determined whether the Wx <wzt (step n201-1), Wx <when not wzt, the weight Wx of the first weighing hopper 13 the objects to be weighed which have been accommodated in _1, border weight close to zero Since it is not smaller than Wzt, it is determined that an object to be weighed is accommodated, and the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 described later.

Empty when a Wx <wzt the weight Wx of the first weighing hopper 13 the objects to be weighed which have been accommodated in _1, is smaller than the boundary weight wzt close to zero, the first weighing hopper 13 _1, that discharge the objects to be weighed a weighing hopper, when there is supply request of the objects to be weighed, first feed hopper 41 ₁ passing through the first upper weighing hoppers 13 ₁ is empty sign flag WS1 indicating the empty "1" Is set (step n201-2). When the air sign is set, the first supply hopper 41 _1, as is empty, the process proceeds to step n301 of Fig.

When the empty sign is not set, it is determined that the first supply hopper 41 ₁ contains an object to be weighed, and the drive command flag Fh1 for opening the discharge gate of the first supply hopper 41 ₁ is set to “1”. "Is set (step n201-3), and the discharge gate is opened to become empty, so the empty sign flag WS1 is set to" 1 "and the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 (step n201-4).

The second, third weighing hopper 13 _2, 13 _3, since the weighing hoppers of the feed position of the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ and the same objects to be weighed, the process of the supply hopper through their upper position, the first 1 is similar to the processing in the supply hopper passing above the weighing hoppers 13 _1.

That is, in the second feed hopper 41 ₂ process for n202 passing above the second weighing hopper 13 _2, in the above process n201, first weighing hopper 13 ₁ to the second weighing hopper 13 _2, the first supply hopper 41 ₁ is the same as just replace each second supply hopper 41 _2, also in the process n203 for the third supply hopper 41 ₃ passing above the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, in the above process n201 first weighing hopper 13 ₁ to the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, first feed hopper 41 ₁ is the same as just replacing respectively the third feed hopper 41 _3.

Next, the fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ passing through the fourth position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₄ on the downstream side in the moving direction of the feed hopper than the supply position of the objects to be weighed, in the feed position, the objects to be weighed put as is, to indicate that it is not empty, it resets the empty sign flag WS4 to "0" (step N204-1), objects to be weighed contained in the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ read in step n103 of Fig. 7 It is determined whether or not the weight Wx of the object is Wx <Wzt (step n204-2). If Wx <Wzt is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. When a wx <wzt is fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ as an empty weighing hopper that discharge the objects to be weighed, discharged fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ to pass over the position of the fourth weighing hopper 13 ₄ The drive command flag Fh4 for opening the gate is set to “1” (step n204-3), and the discharge gate is opened. Therefore, the empty sign flag WS4 is set to “1” assuming that the object to be weighed is discharged and becomes empty. Then, the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 (step n204-4).

Then, the weight of the fifth in the process n205 of the supply hopper 41 _5, the objects to be weighed which have been accommodated in the fifth weighing hoppers 13 ₅ read in step n103 of Fig. 7 which passes through the upper position of the fifth weighing hoppers 13 ₅ It is determined whether Wx is Wx <Wzt (step n205-1). If Wx <Wzt is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. Wx <When a Wzt is fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, as an empty weighing hopper that discharge the objects to be weighed, discharged fifth feed hopper 41 ₅ passing above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 ₅ The drive command flag Fh5 for opening the gate is set to “1” (step n205-2), and the discharge gate is opened. Therefore, the empty sign flag WS5 is set to “1” assuming that the object to be weighed is discharged and becomes empty. Then, the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 (step n205-3).

Sixth to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{6-13 12,} since the weighing hoppers except the supply position of the same objects to be weighed and fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, the process of the supply hopper through their upper position, the it is similar to the processing in the supply hopper passing above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5.

That is, in the processing n206 to n212 for the _{sixth to} twelfth supply hoppers 41 _{6 to} 41 ₁₂ that pass through the upper positions of the _{sixth to} twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{6 to} 13 ₁₂ , respectively, the hopper 13 ₅ sixth to twelfth weighing hoppers _{13 6-13 12,} the fifth feed hopper 41 ₅ is similar only replace each sixth 12 supply hopper _{41 6-41 12.}

The operation when the count value of the SC counter in step 200 is “2”, for example, is the start timing of the second system state S ₂ , as shown in Table 1 above, _{1-13 12} feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} passing above the is the same as the first system state _{S 1} just shifted one.

For example, in the process at step n201 for the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ in step 201-2～201-4, first feed hopper 41 _1, 12 metering passing through the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ It will be an alternative to the hopper _{41 12.}

Further, for example, in the step n204 of the fourth weighing hoppers 13 _4, step n204-1, n204-3, the N204-4, fourth supply hopper 41 ₄ passes over the position of the fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ so that the place of the third supply hopper 41 _3.

Furthermore, for example, in the step n205 of the fifth weighing hoppers 13 _5, step N205-2, in N205-3, fourth supply hopper 5 feeding hopper 41 ₄ passing above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 ₅ It will be an alternative to the 41 _4.

As described above, the first system state S ₁ is the same as the first system state S ₁ except that the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ passing through the upper positions of the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are shifted by one.

For even third to twelfth system state _S 3 _{to S 12,} feed hopper _{41 1-41 12} passing above the position of each weighing hopper _{131-134 12} is the same as described above by simply shifted sequentially one by one.

Next, the drive signals for opening the discharge gates 41 ₁ a to 41 ₁₂ a of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are turned on and off by the process shown in FIG. 9 subsequent to the above-described FIG. In FIG. 8, for example, in step n201-3, the discharge gate operation flag Fhk corresponding to the supply hopper 41k is set to “1”, but in FIG. 9, all the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are set. A drive signal generation process for sequentially determining the corresponding discharge gate operation flags Fh _{1 to} Fh ₁₂ is performed (steps n301 to n312).

As shown in FIG. 9, the first feed hopper 41 ₁ of the driving signal generation process (step n301), firstly, whether "1" is set in the flag Fh ₁ for the first discharge gate operation of the supply hopper 41 ₁ determines whether (step N301-1), when set opens the discharge gate 41 ₁ a to oN gate drive signal of the first feed hopper 41 ₁ of the discharge gate 41 ₁ a (step n301-2 ).

Next, since the process of FIG. 9 is executed every 1 msec, in order to open the discharge gate 41 ₁ a for a predetermined time period of Emsec, the process is repeated until the value of the counter FG1 reaches E. 1 is added (step n301-3), and it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter FG1 has reached E (step n301-4). If not, the process proceeds to step n302. resets the flag Fh ₁ to "0" (step n301-5), and close the discharge gate 41 ₁ a OFF drive signals of the first feed hopper 41 ₁ of the discharge gate 41 ₁ a (step n301-6), The counter FG1 is reset to “0” and the process proceeds to Step n302 (Step n301-7).

In the same manner, drive signal generation processing for the discharge gates 41 ₂ a to 41 ₁₂ a of the _{second to} twelfth supply hoppers 41 _{2 to} 41 ₁₂ is performed (step n302 to step n312).

Each weighing hopper _131-134 each discharge gate ₁₃ 1 of _{12 a~13 12} a drive signal of ON, OFF is performed by the processing shown in FIG. 10 subsequent to FIG. 9 described above. In step n105 of FIG. 7, the discharge gate operation flag Fgk corresponding to the weighing hopper 13k selected by the combination calculation is set to “1”, but in FIG. 10, all the weighing hoppers 13 _{1 to} 13 ₁₂ are set. Drive signal generation processing for sequentially determining the corresponding discharge gate operation flags Fg _{1 to} Fg ₁₂ is performed (steps n401 to n412).

As shown in FIG. 10, the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ of the driving signal generation process (step N401), first, the weight of the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ is selected optimal combination by combination calculation, flag for discharge gate operation It is determined whether or not “1” is set in Fg ₁ (step n 401-1), and when it is set, the gate drive signal of the first weighing hopper discharge gate 13 ₁ a is turned ON to turn on the discharge gate 13. opening a ₁ a (step n401-2).

Next, since the process of FIG. 10 is executed every 1 msec, the value of the counter CG1 reaches D until the value of the counter CG1 reaches D in order to open the discharge gate 13 ₁ a for a predetermined time of Dmsec. 1 is added (step n401-3), and it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter CG1 has reached D (step n401-4). If not, the process proceeds to step n402. resets the flag Fg ₁ to "0" (step n401-5), and close the discharge gate 13 ₁ a OFF drive signals of the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ of the discharge gate 13 ₁ a (step n401-6), The counter CG1 is reset to “0” and the process proceeds to Step n402 (Step n401-7).

Hereinafter, the generation process of the to second to 12 weighing hopper _{13 2-13 12} drive signal of the discharge gate ₁₃ 2 A～13 ₁₂ a similar (step n402~ step N412)
In addition, at the time of start-up immediately after the operation of the combination weigher, it is preferable to operate as follows. First, the supply hopper is rotated a plurality of times, for example, twice around the center of the circumference without opening the discharge gate, during which the operator throws an object to be measured into all of the rotating supply hoppers. .

  Next, all the weighing hoppers are in an empty state, and the supply of the objects to be weighed is requested all at once, and the objects to be weighed are supplied from all the supply hoppers to the weighing hoppers.

  Next, rotation is performed a plurality of times, for example, twice around the center of the circumference without performing a combination calculation. At this time, without opening the discharge gate of the supply hopper, the operator supplies the objects to be measured to all of the supply hoppers rotating twice, and the objects to be weighed are accommodated in all the weighing hoppers and the supply hoppers. Thereafter, the system shifts to a normal operation so that a discharge instruction can be received from an external packaging device or the like and the combination calculation can be executed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of supply hoppers that rotate around the center of the circumference of the weighing hopper that has been emptied after discharging the object to be weighed include the weighing hopper that has been emptied. Since the object to be weighed is discharged and supplied from the supply hopper when passing above, the number of weighing hoppers participating in the combination calculation is increased compared to the conventional example, and the production processing capacity is improved. The yield of combined products is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a combination weigher according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. Parts corresponding to the forms are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the above-described embodiment, the operator manually puts the objects to be weighed into the empty supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ , but in this embodiment, the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ are arranged on the circumference. At a predetermined supply position, an object to be weighed is dropped and supplied from a supply conveyor 22 arranged above the supply position.

In this embodiment, transfer terminal end 22a of the feed conveyor 22 for supplying the objects to be weighed is set to the virtual boundary line B is the origin position, the supply hopper 41 _{1-41 12} to move to the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ However, when passing through a supply position, it installs so that a to-be-measured object can be dropped and supplied.

That is, the supply of the objects to be weighed is performed by the supply conveyor 22 to an empty sign flag supplied is set the hopper 41 _{1-41 12} to move to the first weighing hopper 13 ₁ above.

The timing for moving the first weighing hopper 13 _1, as shown in Table 1 above, the first system state _{S 1,} the first feed hopper 41 _1, the second system state _{S 2,} 12 feed hopper _{41 12} in the third system state _{S 3,} 11 supply hopper _{41 11,} because it is ..., the supply of the first to the feed hopper 41 _1, in the first system state _{S 1,} the first air sign of the supply hopper 41 ₁ if the flag is set, the first supply hopper _411, it is determined that the empty feed hopper of which are not objects to be weighed accommodated, drives the feed conveyor 22 for a predetermined time (predetermined distance), supplying objects to be weighed to the first feed hopper 41 _1.

Also for example, the supply of the twelfth supply hopper _{41 12,} in the second system state _{S 2,} performs the same determination, processing. The same applies to the other supply hoppers 41 _{2 to} 41 ₁₁ .

  In this embodiment, the supply conveyor 22 is driven by a fixed conveyance distance by a drive command signal from the combination weigher. In other words, every time a drive command signal is given, it is driven by a certain transport distance.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 12, the supply conveyor 22 has a mark 35 that indicates a placement area of the object 34 for each predetermined distance L along the conveyor belt conveyance direction (upward in FIG. 12). The operator places the object 34 to be weighed at one time within the range of the placement area. When supplying the object to be weighed 34 to the supply hopper, a drive signal is given to the supply conveyor 22 and moved by the distance L.

An empty sign flag in which the object to be weighed 34 on the supply conveyor 22 is dropped and discharged from the conveyance end 22a of the supply conveyor 22 as the distance L of the supply conveyor 22 moves, and passes below the conveyance end 22a in synchronization with the discharge timing. Are dropped into the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ in which they are set.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of each supply hopper in each system state of this embodiment, is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 8 described above, and the other processes are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the supply hopper and the next upper fourth weighing hoppers 13 ₄ of the supply position passing above the first to third weighing hoppers _{131-134 3} is a supply position of the objects to be weighed The processing was different between the supply hopper passing through the position and the supply hopper passing over the other positions of the fifth weighing hopper 13 ₅ to the twelfth weighing hopper 13 ₁₂ .

In contrast, in this embodiment, the supply position of the objects to be weighed is a first weighing hopper 13 _1, the following weighing hoppers of the feed position is a second metering hopper 13 _2, other weighing hoppers is third to a twelfth weighing hoppers _{13 3-13 12,} Therefore, the supply hopper passing through the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, feed hopper passing above the second weighing hopper 13 ₂ And the supply hopper passing through the upper position of the _{third to} twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{3 to} 13 ₁₂ are different.

For example, a case where the count value of the SC counter is “1” in the first system state S ₁ will be described.

In the first system state S _1, feed hopper passing through the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 _1, as shown in Table 1 above, the first is the feed hopper 41 _1, the first feed hopper 41 ₁ in the process N201', when the air sign flag WS1 indicating that the first feed hopper 41 ₁ is empty and discharge the objects to be weighed is set to "1", first feed hopper 41 ₁ is empty Since it is necessary to supply an object to be weighed, a process (step n201'-5) for setting "1" to the supply conveyor drive command flag Fsv for driving the supply conveyor 22 is added. This is the same as the processing in step n201 in FIG.

The second process of the feed hopper 41 ₂ passing above the second weighing hopper 13 _2, similar to the fourth feed hopper 41 ₄ passing through the fourth position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₄ of FIG. 8 described above is there. That is, in the supply position, as supplied with the objects to be weighed, and resets the empty sign flag WS2 of the second supply hopper 41 ₂ to "0" (Step n202'-1), the second weighing hopper read in step n103 13 ₂ weight Wx is determined whether the Wx <wzt (step n202'-2), when not Wx <wzt, the process proceeds to step n301 of Fig. Wx <When a Wzt, the second weighing hopper 13 _2, as an empty weighing hopper that discharge the objects to be weighed, discharged in the second feed hopper 41 ₂ passing above the second weighing hopper 13 ₄ “1” is set to the drive command flag Fh2 for opening the gate (step n202′-3), the empty sign flag WS2 is set to “1”, and the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 (step n202′-4). ).

The processing of the third supply hopper 41 ₃ passing through the upper position of the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, similar to the fifth feed hopper 41 ₅ passing above the fifth weighing hoppers 13 ₅ in FIG. 8 described above is there. That is, the weight Wx of the third weighing hoppers 13 ₃ read in the above step n103, it is judged whether Wx <wzt (Step n203'-1), when not Wx <wzt is to step n301 of Fig. 9 Transition. Wx <When a Wzt, the third weighing hoppers 13 _5, as an empty weighing hopper that discharge the objects to be weighed, discharged the third feed hopper 41 ₃ passing through the upper position of the third weighing hopper 13 ₃ “1” is set to the drive command flag Fh3 for opening the gate (step n203′-2), the empty sign flag WS3 is set to “1”, and the process proceeds to step n301 in FIG. 9 (step n203′-3). ).

Fourth to twelfth weighing hoppers 13 _{4-13 12,} since the weighing hoppers except the supply position of the same objects to be weighed and the third weighing hoppers 13 _3, the process of the supply hopper through their upper position, the it is similar to the processing in the supply hopper passing above the third weighing hoppers 13 _3.

FIG. 14 is a processing flow for supplying an object to be weighed from the supply conveyor 22 to the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ in which the empty sign flag is set, and is executed by the CPU 23 of the main body control unit 18.

  This is a process subsequent to FIG. 10 described above. First, in the process of FIG. 8 described above, it is determined whether or not “1” is set in the drive command flag Fsv of the supply conveyor 22 (step n501). In some cases, the drive signal of the supply conveyor 22 is turned ON to drive the supply conveyor 22 (step n502).

  Next, since the process of FIG. 14 is executed every 1 msec, 1 is required for each process until the value of the counter CV reaches H in order to drive the supply conveyor 22 for a predetermined time of Hmsec. Is added (step n503), and it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter CV has reached H (step n504). If it has not reached, the process ends. If it has reached, the drive command flag Fsv of the supply conveyor 22 is set. It is reset to “0” (step n505), the drive signal of the supply conveyor 22 is turned off to stop the drive of the supply conveyor 22 (step n506), the counter CV is reset to “0” and the process ends (step n507). .

First to 12 supply hopper 41 _{1-41 12} in this way, when moving the first position above the weighing hoppers 13 ₁ when the air sign flag to discharge the objects to be weighed is set, The object to be weighed 34 is automatically supplied from the supply conveyor 22.

As described above, when the supply hopper passing through the supply position is a supply hopper in which the empty sign flag for discharging the object to be measured is set in synchronization with the rotation cycle of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ , the supply conveyor 22 is Since the object to be weighed is driven and dropped, it is necessary for the operator to monitor the state of the supply hopper that rotates around the center of the circumference and manually load the object to be measured into the empty supply hopper. In addition, the production processing capacity can be increased.

  The supply of the objects to be weighed by the supply conveyor 22 is not limited to the above position, and may be supplied from another position.

(Other embodiments)
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the supply conveyor 22 is driven by the distance L, which is the length of one placement area, by the drive signal to supply the objects to be weighed to the weighing hopper. As another embodiment, for example, the supply conveyor itself may have a control function as follows.

  That is, an article sensor for detecting whether or not an object to be weighed is present at the conveyance end of the supply conveyor is installed in the vicinity of the conveyance terminal and until the object to be weighed is detected by the article sensor, that is, the object to be weighed. The supply conveyor is driven until the object is conveyed to the conveyance end.

  In this case, since the supply conveyor itself conveys the objects to be weighed to the end of conveyance, it is not necessary to provide a mark or a cross indicating the placement area on the supply conveyor as in the above-described embodiment, It is only necessary to place the objects to be weighed at intervals, and there is no need to place them at regular intervals.

  The objects to be weighed placed on the supply conveyor at an appropriate interval are always conveyed to the conveyance end detected by the article sensor by the control of the supply conveyor itself, stopped, and wait for a supply command. It is driven for a predetermined time by a supply command from the combination weigher side, that is, a drive signal of the supply conveyor from the combination weigher side, and the object to be weighed at the conveyance end is dropped and supplied to the weighing hopper.

  When the driving for a predetermined time is finished, the output of the article sensor is read again, and when the article sensor does not detect the object to be weighed, the supply conveyor waits until the article sensor detects the object to be weighed, that is, the object to be weighed is It is driven until it is transported to the transport end.

  Note that during the period during which the object to be weighed is being conveyed to the conveyance end, even if there is a supply command from the combination weigher side, it is ignored.

  The supply conveyor, which is a supply device, may be any device that automatically supplies an object to be weighed in an amount corresponding to one weighing to the weighing hopper in response to a command from the combination weigher (conveyor drive signal). The method is not particularly limited.

  (2) For an empty weighing hopper that is selected as an appropriate combination by combination calculation and discharges an object to be weighed, its weight may be measured to perform zero point correction.

  Zero point correction is performed by determining a stable state where the load signal Wx is Wx <Wzt. However, when zero point correction is performed, in order to prevent the object to be weighed from being supplied from the supply hopper, the zero point correction is not performed from the start to the end of zero point correction. The stability code is sent to the main body control unit 18.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the rotational position is optically detected by the disk 11 and the photo interrupters 32 and 33. However, the rotational position may be detected magnetically by using a magnet and a magnetic sensor. The rotational position may be detected by other methods.

(4) Depending on the properties of the objects to be weighed, manual supply to the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ , automatic supply by the supply conveyor 22, or collection of the objects to be weighed through the collecting chute 3 can be performed quickly, Some are not.

Therefore, the input device 42 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a function for setting the rotation speed of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 _{12 and} the automatic supply by the supply conveyor 22 so that the conveyor speed can be set. Depending on the capacity and production status, the rotation speed of the supply hoppers 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ and the conveyance speed of the supply conveyor 22 may be arbitrarily set.

4 rotating shaft 5 rotating disk 11 disc _{131-134 12} weighing hopper 14 _{1-14 12} weight sensor 18 the main control unit 22 the feed conveyor 23 CPU
32 First photo interrupter 33 Second photo interrupter 41 _{1 to} 41 ₁₂ Supply hopper

Claims (5)

A plurality of supply hoppers that are respectively positioned on the circumference, hold the object to be weighed while rotating around the center of the circumference, discharge the held object to be measured, and supply it downward
A plurality of weighing hoppers that are respectively disposed at fixed positions below the circumference and hold and discharge the objects to be discharged from the supply hopper;
A plurality of weighing units for weighing the objects to be weighed held by the weighing hoppers;
An arithmetic control unit that performs a combination calculation based on weight values measured by the plurality of weighing units and controls a discharge operation of the weighing hopper to discharge an object to be weighed by the weighing hopper selected in the combination calculation. When,
A position detector for detecting the position of the supply hopper on the circumference,
The arithmetic control unit controls the discharge operation of the supply hopper, and the supply hopper is to be weighed based on a detection output of the position detection unit and a weight value measured by the plurality of weighing units. When the supply hopper is discharged when passing over an empty weighing hopper from which the material has been discharged,
A combination weigher characterized by that. An object to be weighed is supplied to the supply hopper that has been discharged to the empty weighing hopper at a predetermined supply position on the circumference.
The combination weigher according to claim 1. The calculation control unit varies the execution condition of the discharge operation between a supply hopper passing through the predetermined supply position and a supply hopper passing through a position other than the predetermined supply position.
The combination weigher according to claim 2. The calculation control unit, regarding the implementation of the discharge operation of the supply hopper that passes through the predetermined supply position, performs the discharge operation between the previous pass through the predetermined supply position and the arrival of the predetermined supply position. That the discharge operation is not performed,
The combination weigher according to claim 3. A conveyor for supplying the objects to be weighed at the predetermined supply position on the circumference is provided to the supply hopper that has been discharged, and the conveyor is arranged so that a conveyance end thereof is above the predetermined supply position. Supplying an object to be weighed from the conveyance end to the supply hopper passing through the predetermined supply position;
The combination weigher according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

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